Palace of Versailles: Petit Trianon

Ange-Jacques Gabriel
1761

This elegant neo-classical residence was commissioned by Louis XV for his mistress Madame de Pompadour who died 4 years before it was completed. In 1774, Louis XVI gave the château and its surrounding park to Queen Marie Antoinette, who came to this retreat to escape the rigors of court life and invited only a select few to this private place. This elegant cube-like mass is more akin to the more sober and refined, Neoclassical style of the 1760's and later. The five-bay facade has a central slight projection of three bays; tall fluted pilasters flank the first floor windows of this projection and continue through the mezzanine level. Other facades are somewhat varied depending on what part of the estate each faces.